As Superman's crusade to end terror picks up traction, the world's greatest heroes flock to his side in a show of support for his aggressive stance against supervillains. But not everyone is happy with the Man of Steel's new initiative.
Batman and a small group of insurgents are eager to undermine Superman's efforts. They're willing to do whatever it takes to make him see the error in his ways, but can only do so if Batman lays all his cards on the table. Can the famously secretive Dark Knight let them in?
In this volume, Tom Taylor continues his electric run on this comic book prequel to the best-selling video game Injustice: Gods Among Us, delivering action galore and plenty of character development.
Tragically, some of the issues I had in the first volume are still present. He fails to understand the complexities of Wonder Woman's character and paints her as a manipulative Lady Macbeth, who pushes Superman towards villainy. Her thirst for violence is sure to make any Wonder Woman fan uncomfortable. This is not the Diana we all know and love. By the end of this volume, you're left only with antipathy towards her.
Comparatively speaking, it's much easier to understand why and how Superman is turning towards despotism. He's lost so much and is fearful of losing what little he has left. Taylor takes the time to flesh out his character and, for better or worse, it's necessary for Superman to play the role of the antagonist. The same cannot be said for Wonder Woman.
Despite my rather low opinion of Taylor's treatment of Wonder Woman, I must say that he's spot-on with just about everything else. While the story itself owes a lot to Kingdom Come, it's his knack for writing compelling dialogue that makes reading Injustice: Gods Among Us so exciting.
The scenes between Batman and Catwoman are among some of the best in this collection, as they show a tender side to both the Dark Knight and the Feline Fatale. Catwoman may be a thief, but being heroic seems to come naturally to her. As such, it's truly fascinating to see her in a role where she is essentially Batman's righthand. It's a clever juxtaposition, as Taylor posits her and Batman as the doubles for Superman and Wonder Woman. What's especially brilliant is how the former typically represent the darkness, whereas the latter represent the light, but it's reversed in this particular story.
However, the real scene stealers in Injustice are Green Arrow and Black Canary. Their banter is sheer perfection. It's funny, it's sexy, it's playful and it's totally on point for this pairing. While I may not be the biggest fan of them as a couple, Taylor really makes me love them here. Black Canary never takes Green Arrow too seriously and consistently keeps him on his toes, something which adds a punch of colour to an otherwise ominously dark storyline.
Beyond all of that, they also serve a very special function. They are a couple we can invest in and relate to, thus becoming the emotional core of this particular part in the narrative. They get caught in the crosshairs in the battle between Batman and Superman, which ultimately leads to a shocking (not so shocking if you played the game) and gut-wrenching death. Taylor writes this so beautifully and tragically that you can't help but feel moved by it.
As much as I'd like to criticize Injustice: Gods Among Us for its characterization of Wonder Woman, it's hard for me not to get sucked into the overall story. Taylor expertly crafts a compelling narrative that elicits an emotional response from his readers. Yes, Superman and Wonder Woman are incredibly arrogant and are completely unlikeable, but that only makes it that much more satisfying when they finally get their comeuppance. The ultimate battle between Batman and Superman makes all of the nitpicks melt away, especially given the surprise twist at the end.
Injustice: Gods Among Us is like a good popcorn blockbuster. It's action-packed, full of incredible fight scenes and enough explosions to put a Michael Bay movie to shame, but it's got a heart and soul that will keep readers invested.
Rating: B+
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